Replica ‘Bandit' still hot car for The Pine School scholarship benefit auto show

HOBE SOUND - Local veteran actor Burt Reynolds is lending The Bandit, a 650-horsepower Trans Am from "Smokey and The Bandit" films, to the second annual 100 Years of Cars antique auto show scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at The Pine School.

Well, not exactly.

Even though it's not the real muscle car made famous in 1977, Principal Jim Cantwell expects military scholarship-minded folks to come see the $130,000 custom-built version produced two years ago by Pontiac to commemorate Reynolds' films. The original Bandit, under repair, remains housed in Reynolds' compound on the Intracoastal Waterway, Reynolds' assistant Eric Hix said.

Car show proceeds will benefit the school's Patriot Scholarship fund, serving children of veterans or active military personnel. The school raised $33,000 from 100 Years of Cars in its first year, according to Pat Austin, school director of communications.

By Thursday, 200 cars were registered, with 204 spaces available, according to Pat Austin, school director of communications, she said.

"Our students may be too young to know Burt Reynolds' Bandit movies, but they'll sure be able to get excited about that car," Cantwell quipped.

Courtney Anderson, the school's first recipient of the scholarship and a 2009 graduate, will present a special Veterans Award, representing students' favorite car in the show.

Delivered to Reynolds home Jan. 9, the replica Bandit, which is first from the run of Trans Ams available for public sale, is being stored at an undisclosed Jupiter garage, Hix said.

The Hobe Sound campus of The Pine School serves 200 students in grades seven through 12. Lower grades, for more than 320 children ages 3 through grade 6, is on East 10th Street in Stuart.

Show tickets are $10 for adults. Kids are free. For more information, call (772) 283-1222. 